Ok this is my first post so I apologize if I'm missing anything my name is brad I have a 1950 Cadillac series 62 I recently pulled the water pump off to rebuild and figured I would remove the radiator to clean it up and pressure test it well it leaks all over and the brackets broke off with no effort after I took layers of paint off the brazing looked like a child did it I figured since I can braze (I do a lot in the navy I might as well dis***emble it and rod it out I've never done this so any help would be grateful some pics of the radiator
In order to rod it out you have to remove the top and bottom tanks which means a lot of heat all around. The tanks will probably warp a little making it a little tricky to re***emble. Someone else probably tried it at home, hence the leaks.
My Dad owned a radiator shop in the 50's and he rodded out many radiators, but it isn't as easy as it sounds. You have to remove at least the top tank, run appropriately sized flat pieces of steel down through each tube, and knock the buildup out of them. Then you have to resolder the tank back on, all around the perimeter, and not get any leaks. I used to watch him doing it and he would get it all soldered, put it down into a tank of water with air pressure going to the radiator, and bubbles would come out of some spots. So he would try to fix those spots but the process would sometimes open up new leaks. It was a very tough job, even with the correct equipment. Do yourself a favor, take it to a radiator shop and spend a few bucks to have it done right. I don't even think they rod out radiators anymore, but rather, they soak them in a hot caustic solution, then pressure wash the insides. If it is as bad as you describe it might even need a new core. This ain't for the faint of heart to try. Don
Rodding the rad is relatively easy but getting to that stage is the trick. It's best to take both tanks off by melting the solder, then using some recoil spring wire (Briggs & Stratton) with the end rounded "rod" each tube. Hose out the rad making sure each tube has a good flow, clean out the tanks and re solder the tanks back on, don't over do the solder. If it has been brazed it may pay to take it to a radiator spe******t, you need to get all the bronze off. It takes me roughly 1 1/2 hrs to do a rad that size and that includes pressure testing, painting and maybe sealing a rotten tube. If someone has already "played" with the rad and made a mess I add 1/2hr. I also add an extra half hour if they want to watch and ask questions
Thanks for advice guys this radiator has had a lot of repairs over the years but it's original and I think it is repairable I think I'm going to find a radiator shop around los angles that will rod it out for me
If you can braze pretty well, it should be no big deal. Just melt the solder out and pull the tanks off. Rodding it out is relatively easy with some sheetmetal strips - the Briggs & Stratton recoil spring is a great idea - run them up and down the tubes until they are clear, being careful with any that may be bent or dented. Once water runs through freely, get the mating surfaces all cleaned up and re-solder it. Its not that hard if you get it all to fit right and clean acid flux and solder it up.
Yup, absolutely no big deal until you put the tank back on with too much heat and realize that you have melted all the solder out of the header to tube joints. Then stuff gets real fun real real quick! The other thing too is there is a very specific way that the top tank is soldered on. Most see the fillet on the out side of solder and just try to go back in and re-fill... Bad! It needs to be securely soldered down in both the inside and outside of the u-shaped channel. The fillet is just the mostly cosmetic finish. Worked in a BUSY commercial radiator shop for three years as a kid in the eighties and did this stuff all day long... Now I wouldn't try it, especially without the right tools!
Well I have a weld shop at my disposal I am the only ht at my command but I trust need louvers he seems like a technical expert and he wouldn't do it so I'll leave it to a pro anyone know of a radiator shop in so-cal that rods out radiators still
Good points Mr. Louvers. I have done it a couple of times with no issues, but I may have just been lucky..... and come to think of it, it was back in the mid eighties when I was a kid.... I'd probably still try it again myself, but then again, if I could find a good shop, maybe not.
take it to ACE Radiator near the Coronado Bridge downtown San Diego THEY are the BEST! http://www.yelp.com/biz/ace-radiator-san-diego-2 my Merc SAR rig which had never been happy in hot weather -- Now IS! thanke to Chaney
We have an old time radiator shop here in town that I have used for years. The last time I took a radiator in the guy who worked there brought it over to me and I asked if he did the work, and he said yes. So I gave him a tip. When I went into the office to pay the boss said "You don't owe me anything, you already took care of my man." I tried to argue, but he said that I had paid enough already. You don't see that every day, and why I keep going back to them ! I love these businesses that have been around for years and years.........they know how to conduct business. Don
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